Man Attacks NYPD Officers with Hatchet Unprovoked

23 Oct 2014

A Facebook page of man who gruesomely attacked New York police officers with a hatchet Thursday features a profile photo of a heavily-armed man and an image of Islamic prayers, although officials have not confirmed links to extremist documents or jihadi groups at this time.

NBC News, citing law enforcement sources, reported the Facebook page belongs to Zale Thompson, a 32-year-old resident of Queens. The report describes the profile picture of his Facebook page as appearing to be “a Muslim warrior.”

Thompson allegedly attacked four recent graduates of the NYPD Police academy unprovoked with a hatchet on Thursday, leaving one officer in critical condition. A law enforcement source says the officer is now out of out of surgery but in intensive care.

NBC reported Thompson allegedly assaulted the officers at 2 p.m. when they were asked by a freelance photographer to pose for a picture. According to Police Commisioner Bill Bratton, the hatchet-wielding perpetrator assaulted the group from behind – “unprovoked and not speaking a word.”

“This matter has not officially been deemed an act of terrorism as the initial investigation is still ongoing and details are being developed,” the FBI said in a statement Thursday evening, NBC New York reports.